A Brief
Moment: with Samson Eshetu (PhD) ICRA, Member of AGRINATURA CDAIS Ethiopia Project Lead National Innovation Facilitator

Could you
introduce yourself and your Organization to the APF network members in
Ethiopia?

I am Samson Eshetu (PhD) currently working for Capacity
Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems (CDAIS) project in Ethiopia as
a Lead National Innovation Facilitator. The Capacity Development for Agricultural
Innovation System (CDAIS) project, which
has started operation in Ethiopia in May 2016, is an initiative of Agrinatura
(association of European research and universities), represented by ICRA and
FAO in eight developing countries of the world which is designed to try out a
new model of development framed by the innovation systems perspective. The
project is financed by the European Union and is aimed at strengthening the functional
capacities of actors involved in agricultural innovation systems to make things
happen in complex and unpredictable situations.

Could you
please share the big achievement of yours?

I can mention quite many big achievements in my
professional career including my recent PhD degree on Agricultural Extension
which my research focuses on Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS). However,
one big achievement which I would like to share with you is the key and leading
role I played for the establishment of the Ethiopian Society of Rural
Development and Agricultural Extension (ESRDAE) in 2010. The reason why I am
mentioning as a big achievement is that many people had tried before and this
came to a reality during my leadership. In fact, these all happened due to the
big technical and financial support I got from colleagues and leadership at
Haramaya University, Sasakawa Africa Fund for Extension Education (SAFE), and
many development partners and dedicated agricultural extension professionals in
the country.

What would you
like to share with/request from the APF network members in Ethiopia?

I want to share with you about the 4 + 1 functional
capacity which is key dimension of capacity development which help us to make
networks, platforms and forums perform effectively. These capacities are

i) capacity to navigate complexity,

ii) capacity to collaborate,

iii) capacity to reflect and learn,

iv) capacity to engage in strategic and political
processes.

The four capacities are the core of an overarching capacity
to adapt and respond in order to realize the potential of innovation.

If you
want to read more, click the pdf file I shared (attached).

AgriProFocus Ethiopia network is one of the few networks
which is well established in terms of diverse, committed and active members.
The network is well facilitated by skilled communication specialists and so
interactive. An online and the face-to-face learning avenue provide an
opportunity for members to share, reflect, learn, and co-generation of
knowledge. This is a critical challenge in most of the networks, platforms and
forums operating in this country. Hence, I suggest to organize an event for few
leaders of networks, platforms and forums in this country for the purposes of
sharing your practical experience on managing networks and how to make it
functional.